Schiphol is easy by train, but the last mile decides the trip
Amsterdam Schiphol has one of Europe's easiest airport train links, but not every Amsterdam hotel is easy after you reach the first station. Canal bridges, tram changes, bike lanes, crowds, and narrow sidewalks can make the final walk harder than the airport train.
Best for Centrum
If your hotel is near Amsterdam Centraal, Damrak, Nieuwmarkt, or the eastern part of the old center, the train to Amsterdam Centraal is usually the cleanest first step. At Schiphol, follow signs to Trains from Schiphol Plaza and use the ticket machines or accepted contactless payment.
Watch out: Amsterdam Centraal is big and busy. Before exiting, check which side you need: city center, IJ waterfront, tram stops, or metro.
Best for Jordaan
For Jordaan, the train to Centraal may be right, but the final walk can involve canals and uneven surfaces. If your hotel is on a small canal street, consider a tram or short taxi rather than dragging bags across bridges.
Common mistake: seeing a 17-minute airport train and forgetting the 20-minute luggage walk after it.
Best for De Pijp
De Pijp is not usually a simple walk from Centraal. Depending on your exact hotel, it may be better to connect to metro or tram rather than exiting at Centraal and walking south with bags.
What to check: whether your hotel is closer to a metro stop, tram stop, or a taxi-access street.
Best for Museum Quarter
For the Museum Quarter, compare train plus tram with a taxi. Public transport can be efficient during the day, but a taxi may be easier if you arrive late, have heavy luggage, or stay near a quiet residential street.
Best for Amsterdam Zuid
If your hotel or meeting is near Amsterdam Zuid, do not automatically go to Amsterdam Centraal. Schiphol has direct train links toward Zuid, and Zuid can be the smarter arrival point for business hotels, conference trips, and parts of the south side.
Best for Amsterdam Centraal
The train from Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal takes 15 to 20 minutes and costs €5.40. Trains run every 10 minutes until around midnight. From Centraal Station, most hotels in the city center are within a 15-minute walk or a short tram ride. The tram stops are directly outside the station. Buy a tram ticket from the machine or use your contactless card. If your hotel is in the Jordaan or Grachtengordel area, the walk from Centraal is flat and straightforward with luggage.
Best for Jordaan
Take the train to Centraal Station, then walk 10 to 15 minutes south into the Jordaan. The neighborhood has narrow streets and bridges, so taxis cannot drop you at your door. If you have heavy bags, the train plus a taxi from Centraal costs about €10 to €15 total. Alternatively, take bus 397 to Museumplein and walk from there if your hotel is on the south side of the Jordaan.
Best for De Pijp
De Pijp is south of the center. Take the train to Amsterdam Zuid station (20 minutes from Schiphol) and then tram 4 or bus 62 to De Pijp. Alternatively, train to Centraal and tram 4 southbound. The neighborhood is lively with restaurants and the Albert Cuyp market. Taxis from Schiphol to De Pijp cost €40 to €50 and take 25 to 35 minutes.
Best for Museum Quarter
Take the train to Amsterdam Zuid and then tram 5 or bus 347 to the Museumplein area. Bus 397 from the airport also stops near Museumplein. This area is home to the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and Stedelijk Museum. If you are visiting museums the next day, staying here puts you within walking distance of all three.
Best for Amsterdam Zuid
Amsterdam Zuid is a business district south of the center. The train from Schiphol takes 10 minutes. This area has modern hotels at lower prices than the center. The metro from Amsterdam Zuid connects to the center in 15 minutes. If you are on a budget or have an early meeting in the south, this is a practical choice.
Late-night fallback
If train service is reduced or your final tram is no longer running, use an official taxi or a simple route to the nearest major station. Avoid starting a long canal walk late at night with luggage and low battery.
Low-battery fallback
Save your hotel address, nearest tram or metro stop, and whether your first station should be Amsterdam Centraal or Amsterdam Zuid. That one decision prevents many wrong-way arrivals.
Quick decision
- Centrum near Centraal: train to Amsterdam Centraal.
- Jordaan: train plus tram or short taxi if bags are heavy.
- De Pijp: check metro or tram before choosing Centraal.
- Museum Quarter: train plus tram or taxi.
- Amsterdam Zuid: take the train to Zuid, not Centraal.
Check visa requirements, local transport apps, and whether your hotel has airport pickup. Screenshot your hotel address before leaving Wi-Fi.
When each option winsTrain wins if you have light luggage and arrive during operating hours. Taxi wins after midnight or with heavy bags. Bus is the budget fallback but adds time and stress.
Common mistakes- Buying the wrong zone ticket
- Not validating metro tickets
- Assuming all airport trains run after midnight
- Not checking late-night transport options
Public transport is usually cheapest. Airport buses are cheaper than trains but slower. Ride-sharing apps can be cheaper than taxis if you share.
Recovery stepsIf you missed the last train: walk to the taxi rank. If the taxi rank is empty: open your ride app. If your phone is dead: ask airport staff for the official rank location.
NS train from Schiphol to Amsterdam
NS train from Schiphol to Amsterdam
Source notes
Checked on 28 June 2026. Schiphol and NS guidance confirm frequent train connections between Schiphol and Amsterdam stations. Check current disruptions before travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the train from Schiphol to Amsterdam?
A single ticket costs €5.40 and takes 15 to 20 minutes to Amsterdam Centraal. Trains run every 10 minutes until around midnight. Use contactless at the gate.
Is there a night bus from Schiphol?
Yes, night bus N97 runs hourly from 1:00am to 5:00am from the airport to Amsterdam Centraal. The fare is the same as a daytime bus ticket.
How much is a taxi from Schiphol?
A taxi from Schiphol to central Amsterdam has a fixed fare of €40 to €50. The rank is directly outside arrivals. Use only the official white taxis.
Where is the bus station at Schiphol?
The bus station is on the arrivals level, outside Door C. Follow the green "Bus" signs. Bus 397 to Centraal and Museumplein departs every 15 minutes during the day.
Are there hotels near Schiphol airport?
Yes, the Sheraton is connected to the terminal. Budget options like CitizenM and Yotel are within a 5-minute walk. Book before you land if arriving late.
Related guides
What to know before you goCheck visa requirements, local transport apps, and whether your hotel has airport pickup. Screenshot your hotel address before leaving Wi-Fi.
When each option winsTrain wins if you have light luggage and arrive during operating hours. Taxi wins after midnight or with heavy bags. Bus is the budget fallback but adds time and stress.
Common mistakes- Buying the wrong zone ticket
- Not validating metro tickets
- Assuming all airport trains run after midnight
- Not checking late-night transport options
Public transport is usually cheapest. Airport buses are cheaper than trains but slower. Ride-sharing apps can be cheaper than taxis if you share.
Recovery stepsIf you missed the last train: walk to the taxi rank. If the taxi rank is empty: open your ride app. If your phone is dead: ask airport staff for the official rank location.
Sam's Practical Verdict
For most travelers with luggage, take the train during operating hours or taxi after midnight. Do not complicate it. The cheapest option is not always the easiest, and after a long flight, easy usually wins.
Train from Schiphol
The train station is directly under the airport. You walk from arrivals to the platform in about 5 minutes. A single ticket to Amsterdam Centraal costs €5.40 and takes 15 to 20 minutes. Trains run every 10 minutes until around midnight. Buy tickets from the blue machines or use your contactless card at the gate.
Bus 397 to Amsterdam CentraalBus 397 runs from the airport to Museumplein and Centraal Station. It costs €6.50 and takes about 30 minutes. During the day it departs every 15 minutes. The stop is on the arrivals level. Night bus N97 runs hourly from 1:00am to 5:00am.
Schiphol TaxiA taxi from Schiphol to central Amsterdam has a fixed fare of around €40 to €50. The rank is directly outside arrivals. Use only the official white taxis. Ride-sharing apps are not cheaper at the airport since they must wait in the same queue.
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Schiphol Plaza and Train Station
Schiphol Plaza is the main hall connecting arrivals, departures, and the train station. The train station is directly below the plaza. Follow the blue "Trein" signs from arrivals. The walk takes about 5 minutes. Trains to Amsterdam Centraal depart every 10 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes at night. The journey takes 15 to 20 minutes. You can buy tickets from the blue machines on the platform or use your contactless bank card at the gate.
Bus Station LocationThe bus station is on the arrivals level, outside Door C. Follow the green "Bus" signs. Bus 397 to Amsterdam Centraal and Museumplein is the most useful for tourists. It costs €6.50 and takes about 30 minutes. The bus has space for luggage under the seats. During peak hours, the bus can be full. If you have large bags, the train is more comfortable.
Night Bus from SchipholIf your flight lands after midnight, night bus N97 runs from the airport to Amsterdam Centraal. It departs hourly from 1:00am to 5:00am. The journey takes about 45 minutes. The fare is the same as a daytime bus ticket. If the night bus schedule does not fit your plans, the taxi rank is outside arrivals and operates 24 hours. The taxi to central Amsterdam costs €40 to €50 with a fixed fare.
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Official source: check the current airport transport information before travel.
